Overview of CR-1 visa for Brazilian wife? Details on marrying in Brazil as well

[jworld34 0]

Was looking at the Visa FAQ's for some info, and directions on starting the process of bringing my wife back with me to the US from Brasil. Only seeing K-1, K-3, etc.?

Just wondering which one I should be looking at or a link to page with info and directions on applying for a CR-1.

Thanks

[apple21 953]

CR/IR: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=10093e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=10093e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

[Ryan H 3,834]

Duplicate thread removed.

**Organizer hat off**

USCIS information page: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=c67c7f9ded54d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

VJ CR-1 guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

Edited October 30, 2012 by Ryan H

[jworld34 0]

I'd like to ask advice from anyone who has married in Brazil and moved back to the US on a CR-1 for their spouse?

Process, documents, chances of being auto-expedited?

I'm also looking to bring every possible document I might need regarding my marriage there, if anyone has any experience regarding getting married in Brazil, please help! Haha, so far I have written down my criminal record, birth certificate, certificate of my single-status, and certificate of residence. Now a couple of questions on these,

1.) Where do I find most of these documents? Haha, besides my birth certificate, they're all a bit difficult to find.

and 2.) With my certificate of residence, that is regarding my residence in the US, not Brazil, correct?

Also, does anyone know if it's better to fly out a few days before, or a day or so after Christmas?

Verifying all of my documents at my local consulate in Chicago, anyone have any experience regarding this as well? As simple as it sounds?

I'll post back on this same thread as to not make duplicate ones regarding the process after our marriage, and moving back here once I get these questions answered first! One step at a time, I suppose.

Thanks for everything,

Any and all info appreciated.

J

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

*** two topics on the same issue merged ****

The documents needed for the CR-1 visa are specified in our Guide, linked above.

For specifics on how to marry in Brazil, you may want to check the Brazilian embassy's website, or ask in our Region specific forum here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/96-mexico-latin-%26-south-america/

[Douglas Custodio 7]

I'd like to ask advice from anyone who has married in Brazil and moved back to the US on a CR-1 for their spouse?

Process, documents, chances of being auto-expedited?

I'm also looking to bring every possible document I might need regarding my marriage there, if anyone has any experience regarding getting married in Brazil, please help! Haha, so far I have written down my criminal record, birth certificate, certificate of my single-status, and certificate of residence. Now a couple of questions on these,

1.) Where do I find most of these documents? Haha, besides my birth certificate, they're all a bit difficult to find.

and 2.) With my certificate of residence, that is regarding my residence in the US, not Brazil, correct?

Also, does anyone know if it's better to fly out a few days before, or a day or so after Christmas?

Verifying all of my documents at my local consulate in Chicago, anyone have any experience regarding this as well? As simple as it sounds?

I'll post back on this same thread as to not make duplicate ones regarding the process after our marriage, and moving back here once I get these questions answered first! One step at a time, I suppose.

Thanks for everything,

Any and all info appreciated.

J

Getting Married in Brazil: http://portuguese.brazil.usembassy.gov/pt/marriage.html [info in Portuguese only]

You would only get auto-expedited if you were in Brazil (so far no one knows about that now that USCIS started to transfer workload eveerywhere)

If you need to legalize anything with the consulate in Chicago it's pretty easy, you will send it on the mail with a Money Order from the postal office and they will return your document legalized. Easy as that. There are some rules though, you need to check their website.

[menina 50]

Just before Christmas is the worst possible time to travel to Brasil. The airports are so full, you can hardly walk in them. If you are trying to make a connecting flight anywhere, you will have a lot of trouble. Trust me, we did it last Christmas, and it was terrible. I'm not sure about a couple of days after, but it would likely be better. Have a good trip!

[Tricia599 2]

Have your fiance check with the local cartorio where you plan on getting married. They will give you a list of documents. Have her check twice, because sometimes the docs change depending on who you talk to!

It's not a difficult process to get married in brazil, but it is time-consuming for all the docs and hoops you have to jump through.

good luck to you!

[Douglas Custodio 7]

Just before Christmas is the worst possible time to travel to Brasil. The airports are so full, you can hardly walk in them. If you are trying to make a connecting flight anywhere, you will have a lot of trouble. Trust me, we did it last Christmas, and it was terrible. I'm not sure about a couple of days after, but it would likely be better. Have a good trip!

I flew from Brazil to Saint Louis (connecting in Detroit) twice close to Christmas. Both trips were on December 21st. And I was on a standby ticket.

Trips around this time are costly but you can make it if you're willing to pay.

[jworld34 0]

I flew from Brazil to Saint Louis (connecting in Detroit) twice close to Christmas. Both trips were on December 21st. And I was on a standby ticket.

Trips around this time are costly but you can make it if you're willing to pay.

Regarding getting auto-expedited, what does it depend upon? Will our chances be better since I will be living in Brasil with her during the process? If it's not expedited, what is the timetable then? Anything I can do to increase the chance of being auto-expedited?

I ask because after our marriage, I only have 5 months left on my tourist visa. I will attempt to extend my visa by 6 months or so, but I won't bank on it, as well.

Overstaying is risky as well, because we will need to come back to Brasil every 6 months. If I am fined and not allowed back in for 6 months, it creates some problems.

Note: I know there is a whole thread on auto-expedition, but I don't have the time to go through 50+ posts and look for Brasil specific answers. Just looking for answers straightforward here.

[Douglas Custodio 7]

Regarding getting auto-expedited, what does it depend upon? Will our chances be better since I will be living in Brasil with her during the process? If it's not expedited, what is the timetable then? Anything I can do to increase the chance of being auto-expedited?

I ask because after our marriage, I only have 5 months left on my tourist visa. I will attempt to extend my visa by 6 months or so, but I won't bank on it, as well.

Overstaying is risky as well, because we will need to come back to Brasil every 6 months. If I am fined and not allowed back in for 6 months, it creates some problems.

Note: I know there is a whole thread on auto-expedition, but I don't have the time to go through 50+ posts and look for Brasil specific answers. Just looking for answers straightforward here.

As far as I know to be auto-expedited you need to be living abroad for at least 6 months. That's what people understood after comparing timelines. We waited until the exact day we completed 6 months in Brazil to send our petition. We got approved in 11 days. A total of 18 days since the packet left Brazil.

I don't remember seeing petitions with less than 6 months living abroad being auto-expedited. But after the USCIS started routing petitions to Local Offices it looks like all processes stop being auto-expedited. They're taking more time to approve. At least 30 days. You will have to keep watch that topic.

[jworld34 0]

As far as I know to be auto-expedited you need to be living abroad for at least 6 months. That's what people understood after comparing timelines. We waited until the exact day we completed 6 months in Brazil to send our petition. We got approved in 11 days. A total of 18 days since the packet left Brazil.

I don't remember seeing petitions with less than 6 months living abroad being auto-expedited. But after the USCIS started routing petitions to Local Offices it looks like all processes stop being auto-expedited. They're taking more time to approve. At least 30 days. You will have to keep watch that topic.

So let's say I'm not auto-expedited. How long will the process take do you think? 8-9 months then?